Hernán Cortés and Aztec Emperor Montezuma Essay

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The Aztec ruler Montezuma 2nd
My essay is going to be on the Aztec emperor Montezuma 2. Montezuma was born in Tenochtitlan capital of the Aztec empire which is now Mexico City in 1466. He received education in religion, science, and art was especially devoted to his religion, becoming a priest in the temple of the war god Huitzilopochtli. Montezuma was to become a successful ruler and general even before he became emperor from 1502-1520.

In 1502 Montezuma succeeded to his uncle Ahuitzotl to the throne and became known for his pride and superstition. He lacked the harsh realism of his predecessors and was very much influenced by omens and prophecies. He dismissed all plebeians from his court and increased taxation of the merchants. Although his advisers warned him that his measures would weaken the empire, he requested heavier tribute from conquered tribes and launched numerous expeditions to obtain sacrificial victims his actions led to revolts and to wars between Tenochtitlan and several tribes.

In 1517 Montezuma got the news that strangers had landed on the coast. It was on the 8th of November 1519, that Hernan Cortez and Montezuma met. It was over the next few months, that he was used and imprisoned by the Spanish as the conquest processed. He died in 1520 during a battle with the Spanish, though the exact cause of his death is a matter of disagreement.

The expansion of his empire
In many ways this emperor was believed to be harsh in the ruling of his

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